Seven men have been arrested on suspicion of murder after a body was found in a well at a property in Warlingham.

The Metropolitan Police's Homicide and Major Crime Command is investigating after officers were called to Audley Drive on Friday afternoon.

Gardeners doing clearing work made the grim discovery in the front garden of a private house shortly before 2pm.

The body was removed from the well on Saturday afternoon and taken away in a private ambulance.

Speaking to reporters earlier on Saturday, Detective Chief Inspector Cliff Lyons said: "It is a murder investigation. As far as I am concerned, when a body is found in a well, it either fell in there or was placed in there, and the evidence is apparent that the body was placed in there.

"It's not been there for an extended period of time, it will be a matter of weeks at the most.

"The body presents a number of logistical challenges. The well is two feet in diameter, it is seven feet deep to the water line, and the water is approximately four feet deep.

"We need a police marine diving team, with breathing apparatus, and we need to recover the body intact to preserve forensic evidence.

"It is not possible to ascertain with accuracy the gender of the body but, judging by the size, it is most likely to be an adult, not a child. The person is white.

"This is an unusual case and I would appeal for anybody who has concerns about a missing person, or who believes they may know something about this individual or incident, to call my officers."

The arrested men, aged between 21 and 27, were held on Friday night and they remained in custody on Saturday afternoon.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "Specialist officers, including Metropolitan Police divers, attended the scene and the process of recovering the body from the well has been completed.

"At this stage detectives still do not know any further details about the deceased."

DCI Lyons was not prepared to discuss who lived in the house, or a suggestion that the body was wrapped in carpet. He could not confirm or deny whether the body was intact.

Asked about claims by local residents that there had been trouble during the past couple of years with the people who lived in the house, and that police had been called many times, he said: "The residents have expressed concern, there is intelligence to support that notion, yes."

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "The body, which is an adult, is currently unidentified."

A post-mortem examination is due to take place at East Surrey Hospital in Redhill on Sunday afternoon.